Wormian bones - a case report of post-mortem examination

Wróbel Grzegorz. Wormian bones - a case report of post-mortem examination. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2018;8(6):412-417. eISNN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1442512

http://ojs.ukw.edu.pl/index.php/johs/article/view/6144

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Received: 01.06.2018. Revised: 15.06.2018. Accepted: 30.06.2018.

Wormian bones - a case report of post-mortem examination

Grzegorz Wróbel1

1 _{Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce,}

Poland

Correspondence: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University, Al. IX Wieków Kielc 19A, 25-317 Kielce, Poland.

Abstract

Skull bones provide attachment to numerous facial expressions. Sometimes, as an anatomical variant, small irregular bones (ossicles) appear in the area already present and

located at the seams of the cranial skull. These asymmetrical bones are also called sutural

bones, which usually occur along the sutures.The observational study concerns bone material

located in the Department of Anatomy of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce. During the analysis of human skulls, the occurrence of additional bones within the cranial sutures was observed. Morphologically, these bones have different shapes (oval, oblong, round, quadrilateral, polygonal, triangular) and sizes. Wormian bones are more common in the human skull than previously reported, therefore doctors or radiologists should know about this anatomical variant not to confuse it with the clinical aspect during surgery or imaging the skull.

Keywords: skull, sutural bones, osteology

1. Introduction

2. Case presentation

The observational study concerns bone material located in the Anatomy Department of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce. During the analysis of human skulls, the occurrence of additional bones within the cranial sutures was observed. The first photo shows the presence of WB in a non-regular shape located near the sagittal suture and lambdoid suture (Figure 1). The second photograph shows WB located near the following sutures: lambdoid, occipitomastoid and parietomastoid (Figure 2). The third photograph shows a large WB located near the following sutures: lambdoid and occipitomastoid (Figure 3).

Figure 1. Posterior view of the skull vault with the presence of the sutural bone. WB – Wormian bone, SS – sagittal suture, LS – lambdoid suture, OB – occipital bone, LPB/RPB –

Figure 2. Side view of the skull with the presence of the sutural bone. WB – Wormian bone, PS – parietomastoid suture, LS – lambdoid suture, OS – occipitmastoid suture, OB –

occipital bone, LPB – left parietal bone, LTB – left temporal bone

(photographed by Grzegorz Wróbel)

Figure 3. Posterior view of the skull with the presence of the sutural bone. WB – Wormian bone, LS – lambdoid suture, OS – occipitmastoid suture, OB – occipital bone, LPB – left

3. Discussion

WB connects with the surrounding bones with sutures and their recesses are more complex outside than on the inner surface of the skull. Morphologically, these bones have different shapes (oval, oblong, round, quadrilateral, polygonal, triangular) and sizes that may have a diameter of less than 1 mm to 5 x 9 cm [8]. There is a moderate degree of sexual dimorphism among the bone wormian with respect to overall frequency, number and location [9]. The prevalence of wormian bones was reported by various authors. For example, Patil and Sheelavant [10], analyzing 180 dry human skulls, showed that the total incidence of bone vermilion was more in women (64.80%) than in male skulls (40.20%). Wb occurred more often at lambdoid suture (60%). WB are more common in the human skull than previously reported, therefore doctors or radiologists should know about this anatomical variant not to confuse it with the clinical aspect during surgery or imaging the skull [11].

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